Liquid foundation offers a beautiful, full coverage base for your makeup look. It can cover up any blemishes or imperfections, and make your skin look flawless.[1] If liquid foundation has become a staple in your beauty routine, it can be a nightmare if you go to apply your makeup only to discover your trusty bottle is empty. Don’t freak out – there are a few different ways to make your own, homemade liquid foundation.

You can find shea butter, argan oil, aloe, and witch hazel – an astringent – at your local pharmacy or beauty supply store. You may need to search a bit harder for the emulsifying wax, but can certainly order it from Amazon if you can’t find it locally.

You can find zinc oxide at your local pharmacy. You'll find cosmetic clays at natural beauty supply stores – a quick Google search will bring up several options. The easiest place to find mica powder is online. Cocoa powder can be found in any grocery store.

2

Melt shea butter in a small pan. If you have one, a double boiler also works great for this step. Add one teaspoon (4.93 mL) of shea butter into the pan, and set your stovetop to low heat. This shouldn't take long at all, so don't step away.[2] Continue stirring the shea butter as it begins to melt.

3

Add your other ingredients. Once the shea butter has melted, you'll need to throw in two teaspoons (9.86 mL) of argan oil and half a teaspoon (2.46 mL) of wax. Continuously stir your mixture as it warms and melts together. Once those have melted, add one tablespoon (14.79 mL) of the aloe and one teaspoon (4.93 mL) of the witch hazel.

Mix until everything is thoroughly blended, and remove from heat.

4

Put your lotion into a bowl or small container. You'll be adding the color ingredients next, so make sure there is plenty of room for mixing in this container. You may want to create your foundation in whatever container you’ll use for storage, like a small makeup container or cup. Just make sure that whatever container you use has a lid.

5

Add zinc oxide to your moisturizer. Zinc oxide will add sun protection to your liquid foundation, which will help keep your skin healthy and wrinkle-free.[3] Because the zinc is a pretty thick substance, it will ensure your liquid foundation provides the coverage you desire, concealing any blemishes. It will make your skin appear smooth and soft.

You may need to experiment a bit to find out how much zinc oxide you like in your recipe. Typically, it requires anywhere from one teaspoon (4.93 mL) to four teaspoons (19.72 mL).[4]

6

Mix clay in your foundation. While the word "clay" probably brings to mind images of modeling clay you used back in art class, there is actually powder cosmetic clay to use for recipes like these. However, this is an optional ingredient, and you don’t need much – about half a teaspoon (2.46 mL) will do the trick.[5]

These clays contain minerals that are healthy for your skin and absorb excess oil so they’re a great addition to your liquid foundation.[6]

Bentonite clay is the most popular clay to use, so as a beginner, you can start with that!

7

Add mica powder and cocoa powder. These powders will provide the color and bronzing to your liquid foundation. This is where you can really customize your foundation to match your skin tone, so do this step slowly and carefully. Sprinkle in a bit of mica powder, then a bit of cocoa powder, stir, and test the color. Tweak as needed, and continue mixing until you’ve created a shade that matches your skin tone.[7]

Method2

Using Store Bought Cosmetics to Create Foundation

1

Purchase a moisturizer. If you aren’t interested, or don’t have the time, to make your own lotion, you can simply buy some.[8] If you have a great facial lotion that you use religiously, stick with that one. It’s great to use one that you know won’t make you break out or cause any unfortunate side effects. If you don’t have a trusted moisturizer, head to your local pharmacy or beauty supply store to pick one up. A lotion with shea butter is great for your skin, and works well to make liquid foundation.[9]

If you aren’t sure which lotion to choose, make sure you buy the smallest available bottle. That way, you won’t waste money (or lotion) if you discover you don’t like it.

2

Squirt your lotion into a container. It's simple to put it into whatever container you'll be storing your foundation in, so put it in anything with a tight lid. Make sure there is adequate room for mixing as well. Decide how much liquid foundation you want to make, and add that much lotion to the container. Just remember that if you add a lot of lotion, you'll need a lot of powder foundation as well.

3

Use a store-bought mineral powder. Feel free to use whatever powder you like. If you have a powder that matches your skin but simply prefer a liquid foundation, go ahead and combine it with the moisturizer to quickly turn it into a liquid.[10]

Picking the perfect powder for your skin tone can be tricky. If you've never purchased powder before, it might be smart to head to a cosmetic store or a beauty counter in a department store and ask a professional for help finding your shade.

If there is no one to ask for help, make sure you test the powder before buying it. The right shade should blend naturally on your jawline. Make sure that you check the color on yourself in natural light, because the bright lights of stores can be deceiving.[11]

4

Stir until satisfied with the consistency. Add one teaspoon (4.93 mL) and stir, another another, stir, and so on. Continue doing this until you've reached a color and consistency that you like for your liquid foundation. When the color and consistency look good to you, test it on your forehead to ensure you like the product you’ve created. The great thing about making your own product is that you can always tweak the ratios, make new batches, and find the recipe that works best for you.

That is not recommended. Milo contains other ingredients like sugar and vegetable oil, as well as artificial ingredients, that might not be great for your skin. Cocoa powder has no other added ingredients.

Cinnamon or nutmeg may work, but either may irritate your skin. Test them to see how they react with your skin. Be sure to leave it on for a while, unless there is an immediate reaction, to see if it's suitable for long use. If you do get any sign of irritation, then wash it off immediately.